Paper feed system and method

ABSTRACT

A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a paper feed device and method. The system may include a paper collator with at one selectively openable shelf. A control device may monitor the capacity of the selectively openable shelf, and instruct a printer to hold printing additional print jobs. The selectively openable shelf may then be opened to allow the printed literature resting thereon to fall to a lower shelf, and the printer can then be restarted. Sheets of printed literature may be drawn from the paper collator, collected with any other sheets of printed literature associated with a prescription order, and mated with the prescription order for shipment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/793,840 filed on Jul. 8, 2015, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to the technical field ofautomated filling centers. In a specific example, the presentapplication may relate to a high volume fulfillment center, e.g., a highvolume pharmacy and to systems and devices used in filling prescriptionsand prescription orders at a high volume pharmacy.

BACKGROUND

A high-volume pharmacy may process and fill a large number ofprescriptions and prescription orders. Automated systems may be used bya high volume pharmacy to process and fulfill prescriptions.

Frequently, more than one prescription drug is required to complete aprescription order. Portions of the prescription order may be fulfilledin different areas of the high-volume pharmacy. After fulfillment, thefulfilled prescriptions may be gathered into a complete prescriptionorder for shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example order processing device that maybe deployed within the system of FIG. 1, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a paper feed device, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 4 is side view of a paper feed device, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a paper feed conveyor, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a paper collator, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a paper collator, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an cross-sectional view of a paper collator, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a paper handler, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a folded paper handler, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a folded paper handler, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a controller, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a printer controller, according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a collator, according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a literature-verification and routingsubsystem, according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are an example process flow illustrating a method forhandling literature for a prescription order, according to an exampleembodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions for causing themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed hereinmay be executed or stored.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example systems and methods for literature and paper handling (e.g., ina pharmacy) are described. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident,however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that these embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details.

Generally, a prescription order is generated for a high volume pharmacy.The prescription order may include more than one prescription drug forfulfillment. Each prescription drug in a prescription order is an ordercomponent of the prescription order. Generally, the order components arepill bottles or other packaging having a quantity of a prescription drugcontained therein.

The prescription drugs may be dispensed at various sections of the highvolume pharmacy. Some prescription orders may require manual fulfillmentof order components. Distribution of order components necessitatingmanual fulfillment is provided by a distribution section and one or moremanual sections. In general, manual handling includes manual fulfillmentof prescription drugs. Manual handling occurs at one or more than onemanual sections, from which the order component exits the manualfulfillment device. Some prescription orders may be filled usingautomated machines, which can fill prescription orders at a greater ratethan manual fulfillment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100, according to anexample embodiment. While the system 100 is generally described as beingdeployed in a high volume pharmacy or fulfillment center (e.g., a mailorder pharmacy, a direct delivery pharmacy, and the like), the system100 and/or components thereof may otherwise be deployed. The system 100may include an order processing device 102 in communication with abenefit manager device 106 over a network 104. Additional devices whichmay be in communication with the benefit manager device 106 and/or theorder processing device 102 over network 104 include: database(s) 108which may store one or more than one of order data 110, member data 112,claims data 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118, and plan sponsordata 120; pallet sizing and pucking device(s) 122; loading device(s)124; inspect device(s) 126; unit of use device(s) 128; automateddispensing device(s) 130; manual fulfillment device(s) 132; reviewdevice(s) 134; imaging device(s) 136; cap device(s) 138; accumulationdevice(s) 140; literature device(s) 141; packing device(s) 142; and unitof use packing device(s) 144. The system 100 may also include additionaldevices, which may communicate with each other over network 104 ordirectly.

The order processing device 102 may receive information aboutprescriptions being filled at a pharmacy in which the order processingdevice 102 is deployed. In general, the order processing device 102 is adevice located within or otherwise associated with a pharmacy locationto enable fulfillment of a prescription by dispensing prescriptiondrugs. In some embodiments, the order processing device 102 may be adevice separate from a pharmacy that enables communication with otherdevices located within a pharmacy. For example, the order processingdevice 102 may be in communication with another order processing device102 and/or other devices 122-144 located with a pharmacy. In someembodiments, an external pharmacy order processing device 102 may havelimited functionality (e.g., as operated by a patient requestingfulfillment of a prescription drug) when an internal pharmacy orderprocessing device 102 may have greater functionality (e.g., as operatedby a pharmacy).

The order processing device 102 may track a prescription order as it isfulfilled. A prescription order may include one or more than oneprescription to be filled by the pharmacy. The order processing device102 may make pharmacy routing decisions and/or order consolidationdecisions for a prescription order. The pharmacy routing decisionsinclude what device or devices in the pharmacy are responsible forfilling at least a portion of the prescription order, where the orderconsolidation decisions include whether portions of a prescription orderor multiple prescription orders should be shipped together for a patientor a patient family. The order processing device 102 may operate incombination with the benefit manager device 106. The order processingdevice 102 may track and/or schedule the literature or other paperworkassociated with each order or multiple prescription orders that arebeing shipped together.

Examples of the order processing device 102 include a set-top box (STB),a receiver card, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA),a display device, a portable gaming unit, a tablet, and a computingsystem; however other devices may also be used. For example, the orderprocessing device 102 may include a mobile electronic device, such anIPHONE or IPAD device by Apple, Inc., mobile electronic devices poweredby ANDROID by Google, Inc., and a BLACKBERRY device by BlackberryLimited. The order processing device 102 may also include othercomputing devices, such as desktop computing devices, notebook computingdevices, netbook computing devices, gaming devices, servers, and thelike. The device 102 may include circuitry, a processor, a memory tostore data and instructions, and communication functionality. Othertypes of electronic devices that can use rules and instructions toexecute various functions may also be used.

Examples of the network 104 include Mobile Communications (GSM) network,a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP), an Internet Protocol (IP) network, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) network, a WiFi network, or an IEEE802.11 standards network, as well as various combinations thereof. Thenetwork 104 may include optical communications. The network 104 may be alocal area network or a global communication network, such as theInternet. Other conventional and/or later developed wired and wirelessnetworks may also be used. In some embodiments, the network 104 mayinclude a prescribing network such as the electronic prescribing networkoperated by Surescripts of Arlington, Virginia.

The benefit manager device 106 is a device operated by an entity atleast partially responsible for creation and/or management of thepharmacy or drug benefit. While this benefit manager operating thebenefit manager device 106 is typically a pharmacy benefit manager(PBM), other entities may operate the benefit manager device 106 eitheron behalf of themselves, the PBM, or another entity. For example, thebenefit manager may be operated by a health plan, a retail pharmacychain, a drug wholesaler, a data analytics or other type ofsoftware-related company, or the like. In some embodiments, a PBM thatprovides the pharmacy benefit may also provide one or more than oneadditional benefits including a medical or health benefit, a dentalbenefit, a vision benefit, a wellness benefit, a radiology benefit, apet care benefit, an insurance benefit, a long term care benefit, anursing home benefit, and the like. The PBM may, in addition to its PBMoperations, operate one or more than one pharmacy. The pharmacies may beretail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, or otherwise.

Some of the operations of the PBM that operates the benefit managerdevice 106 may include the following. A member (or a person on behalf ofthe member) of a pharmacy benefit plan administered by or through thePBM attempts to obtain a prescription drug at a retail pharmacy locationwhere the member can obtain drugs in a physical store from a pharmacistor pharmacist technician, or in some instances through mail order drugdelivery from a mail order pharmacy location. The member may also obtaina prescription drug directly or indirectly through the use of a machine,such as a kiosk, vending unit, mobile electronic device, or a differenttype of mechanical, electrical, electronic communication device and/orcomputing device.

The member may have a co-pay for the prescription drug that reflects anamount of money that the member is responsible to pay the pharmacy forthe prescription drug. The money paid by the member to the pharmacy maycome from the personal funds of the member, a health savings account(HSA) of the member or the member's family, a health reimbursementarrangement (HRA) of the member or the member's family, a flexiblespending accounts (FSA) of the member or the member's family, or thelike. An employer of the member may directly or indirectly fund orreimburse the member or an account of the member for the co-pay.

The amount of the co-pay paid by the member may vary by the benefit planof a plan sponsor or client with the PBM. The member's co-pay may bebased on a flat co-pay (e.g., $10), co-insurance (e.g., 10%), and/or adeductible (e.g., for first $500 of annual prescription drug spend) forcertain prescription drugs, certain types and/or classes of prescriptiondrugs, and/or all prescription drugs.

In certain instances, the member may not pay the co-pay or may only payfor a portion of a co-pay for a prescription drug. For example, if theusual and customary cost for a generic version of a prescription drug is$4, and the member's flat co-pay is $20 for the prescription drug, themember may only pay $4 to receive the prescription drug. In anotherexample involving a worker's compensation claim, no co-pay may be due bythe member for the prescription drug. The co-pay may also vary based onthe delivery channel used to receive the prescription drug. For example,the co-pay for receiving prescription drug from a mail order pharmacylocation may be less than the co-pay for receiving prescription drugfrom a retail pharmacy location.

In conjunction with receiving the co-pay (if any) from the member anddispensing the prescription drug to the member, the pharmacy submits aclaim to the PBM for the prescription drug. The PBM may perform certainadjudication operations including verifying the eligibility of themember, reviewing an applicable formulary of the member to determineappropriate co-pay, coinsurance, and deductible for the prescriptiondrug, and performing a drug utilization review (DUR) on the member. ThePBM then provides a response to the pharmacy following performance of atleast some of the aforementioned operations. As part of theadjudication, the plan sponsor (or the PBM on behalf of the plansponsor) ultimately reimburses the pharmacy for filling the prescriptiondrug when the prescription drug was successfully adjudicated. Theaforementioned adjudication operations generally occur before the co-payis received and the prescription drug dispensed. However, the operationsmay occur simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, or in adifferent order. In addition, more or less adjudication operations maybe performed as at least part of the adjudication process.

The amount of reimbursement paid to the pharmacy by a plan sponsorand/or money paid by the member may be based at least in part on thetype of pharmacy network in which the pharmacy is included. Otherfactors may be used to determine the amount in addition to the type ofpharmacy network. For example, if the member pays the pharmacy for theprescription without using the prescription drug benefit provided by thebenefit manager, the amount of money paid by the member may be higherand the amount of money received by the pharmacy for dispensing theprescription drug and for the prescription drug itself may be higher.Some or all of the foregoing operations may be performed by executinginstructions on the benefit manager device 106 and/or an additionaldevice.

In some embodiments, at least some of the functionality of the orderprocessing device 102 may be included in the benefit manager device 106.The order processing device 102 may be in a client-server relationshipwith the benefit manager device 106, a peer-to-peer relationship withthe benefit manager device 106, or in a different type of relationshipwith the benefit manager device 106.

The order processing device 102 and/or the benefit manager device 106may be in communication directly (e.g., through local storage) and/orthrough the network 104 (e.g., in a cloud configuration or software as aservice) with a database 108 (e.g., as may be retained in memory orotherwise). The database 108 may store order data 110, member data 112,claims data 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118, and/or plansponsor data 120. Other data may be stored in the database 108.

The order data 110 may include data related to the order ofprescriptions including the type (e.g., drug name and strength) andquantity of each prescription in a prescription order. The order data110 may also include data used for completion of the prescription, suchas prescription materials. In general, prescription materials are a typeof order materials that include an electronic copy of informationregarding the prescription drug for inclusion with or otherwise inconjunction with the fulfilled prescription. The prescription materialsmay include electronic information regarding drug interaction warnings,recommended usage, possible side effects, expiration date, date ofprescribing, or the like. The order data 110 may be used by a highvolume fulfillment center to fulfill a pharmacy order.

In some embodiments, the order data 110 includes verificationinformation associated with fulfillment of the prescription in thepharmacy. For example, the order data 110 may include videos and/orimages taken of (i) the prescription drug prior to dispensing, duringdispensing, and/or after dispensing, (ii) the prescription container(e.g., a prescription bottle and sealing lid) used to contain theprescription drug prior to dispensing, during dispensing, and/or afterdispensing, (iii) the packaging and/or packaging materials used to shipor otherwise deliver the prescription drug prior to dispensing, duringdispensing, and/or after dispensing, and/or (iv) the fulfillment processwithin the pharmacy. Other type of verification information such as barcode data read from pallets used to transport prescriptions within thepharmacy may also be stored as order data 110.

The member data 112 includes information regarding the membersassociated with the benefit manager. The information stored as memberdata 112 may include personal information, personal health information,protected health information, and the like. Examples of the member data112 include name, address, telephone number, e-mail address,prescription drug history, and the like. The member data 112 may includea plan sponsor identifier that identifies the plan sponsor associatedwith the member and/or a member identifier that identifies the member tothe plan sponsor. The member data 112 may include a member identifierthat identifies the plan sponsor associated with the patient and/or apatient identifier that identifies the patient to the plan sponsor. Themember data 112 may also include, by way of example, dispensationpreferences such as type of label, type of cap, message preferences,language preferences, or the like.

The member data 112 may be accessed by various devices in the pharmacy,e.g., the high volume fulfillment center, to obtain information utilizedfor fulfillment and shipping of prescription orders. In someembodiments, an external order processing device 102 operated by or onbehalf of a member may have access to at least a portion of the memberdata 112 for review, verification, or other purposes.

In some embodiments, the member data 112 may include information forpersons who are patients of the pharmacy but are not members in abenefit plan being provided by the benefit manager. For example, thesepatients may obtain drug directly from the pharmacy, through a privatelabel service offered by the pharmacy, the high volume fulfillmentcenter, or otherwise. In general, the use of the terms member andpatient may be used interchangeably herein.

The claims data 114 includes information regarding pharmacy claimsadjudicated by the PBM under a drug benefit program provided by the PBMfor one, or more than one, plan sponsors. In general, the claims data114 includes an identification of the client that sponsors the drugbenefit program under which the claim is made, and/or the member thatpurchased the prescription drug giving rise to the claim, theprescription drug that was filled by the pharmacy (e.g., the nationaldrug code number), the dispensing date, generic indicator, GPI number,medication class, the cost of the prescription drug provided under thedrug benefit program, the copay/coinsurance amount, rebate information,and/or member eligibility. Additional information may be included.

In some embodiments, other types of claims beyond prescription drugclaims may be stored in the claims data 114. For example, medicalclaims, dental claims, wellness claims, or other type of healthcare-related claims for members may be stored as a portion of the claimsdata 114.

In some embodiments, the claims data 114 includes claims that identifythe members with whom the claims are associated. In some embodiments,the claims data 114 includes claims that have been de-identified (e.g.,associated with a unique identifier but not with a particular,identifiable member).

The drug data 116 may include drug name (e.g., technical name and/orcommon name), other names by which the drug is known by, activeingredients, an image of the drug (e.g., in pill form), and the like.The drug data 116 may include information associated with a singlemedication or multiple medications.

The prescription data 118 may include information regardingprescriptions that may be issued by prescribers on behalf of patients,who may be members of the drug benefit plan, for example to be filled bya pharmacy. Examples of the prescription data 118 include patient names,medication or treatment (such as lab tests), dosing information, and thelike. The prescriptions may be electronic prescriptions, paperprescriptions that have been scanned, or otherwise. In some embodiments,the dosing information reflects a frequency of use (e.g., once a day,twice a day, before each meal, etc.) and a duration of use (e.g., a fewdays, a week, a few weeks, a month, etc.).

In some embodiments, the order data 110 may be linked to associatedmember data 112, claims data 114, drug data 116, and/or prescriptiondata 118.

The plan sponsor data 120 includes information regarding the plansponsors of the benefit manager. Examples of the plan sponsor data 120include company name, company address, contact name, contact telephonenumber, contact e-mail address, and the like.

The order processing device 102 may direct at least some of theoperations of devices 122-144, recited above. In some embodiments,operations performed by one of these devices 122-144 may be performedsequentially, or in parallel with the operations of another device asmay be coordinated by the order processing device 102. In someembodiments, the order processing device 102 tracks a prescription withthe pharmacy based on operations performed by one or more of the devices122-144.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may transport prescription drugcontainers (e.g., between one or more than one of the devices 122-144 inthe high volume fulfillment center) by use of pallets. The pallet sizingand pucking device 122 may configure pucks in a pallet. A pallet may bea transport structure for a number of prescription containers, and mayinclude a number of cavities. A puck may be placed in one or more thanone of the cavities in a pallet by the pallet sizing and pucking device122. A puck may include a receptacle sized and shaped to receive aprescription container. Such containers may be supported by the pucksduring carriage in the pallet. Different pucks may have differentlysized and shaped receptacles to accommodate containers of differingsizes, as may be appropriate for different prescriptions.

The arrangement of pucks in a pallet may be determined by the orderprocessing device 102 based on prescriptions which the order processingdevice 102 decides to launch. In general, prescription orders in theorder database 110 reside in one or more than one queues, and aregenerally launched in a first-in-first-out order. However, the orderprocessing device 102 may use logic and a variety of factors todetermine when and how prescriptions are to be launched. For example,some non-limiting factors which may alter the first-in-first-out orderof launching prescriptions in a pharmacy include the age of the order,whether the order required an outreach to a physician or some otherintervention, whether there are any performance guarantees with plansponsors or members, the available inventory of a given pharmaceuticalin view of existing prescriptions already launched which will requirethat pharmaceutical, the zip code to which the order will be shipped,the workload and volume of various parts of the pharmacy, whether validpaperwork for the order has been received, and/or similar orders for thesame pharmaceutical that are already to be launched. The logic may beimplemented directly in the pallet sizing and pucking device 122, in theorder processing device 102, in both devices 102, 122, or otherwise.Once a prescription is set to be launched, a puck suitable for theappropriate size of container for that prescription may be positioned ina pallet by a robotic aim or pickers. The pallet sizing and puckingdevice 122 may launch a pallet once pucks have been configured in thepallet.

The loading device 124 may load prescription containers into the puckson a pallet by a robotic arm, a pick and place mechanism, or the like.In one embodiment, the loading device 108 has robotic arms or pickers tograsp a prescription container and move it to and from a pallet or apuck. The loading device 124 may also print a label which is appropriatefor a container that is to be loaded onto the pallet, and apply thelabel to the container. The pallet may be located on a conveyor assemblyduring these operations, e.g., at the high volume fulfillment center.

The inspect device 126 may verify that containers in a pallet arecorrectly labeled and in the correct spot on the pallet. The inspectdevice 126 may scan the label on one or more than one container on thepallet. Labels of containers may be scanned or imaged in full or in partby the inspect device 126. Such imaging may occur after the containerhas been lifted out of its puck by a robotic arm, picker, or the like,or may be otherwise scanned or imaged while retained in the puck. Insome embodiments, images and/or video captured by the inspect device 126may be stored in the database 108 as order data 110.

The unit of use device 128 may temporarily store, monitor, label and/ordispense unit of use products. In general, unit of use products areprescription drug products that may be delivered to a patient or memberwithout being repackaged at the pharmacy. These products may includepills in a container, pills in a blister pack, inhalers, and the like.Prescription drug products dispensed by the unit of use device 128 maybe packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may be shippedin combination with other prescription drugs dispensed by other devicesin the high volume fulfillment center.

The automated dispensing device 130 may include one or more than onedevices that dispense prescription drugs or pharmaceuticals intoprescription containers in accordance with one or multiple prescriptionorders. In general, the automated dispensing device 130 may includemechanical and electronic components with, in some embodiments, softwareand/or logic to facilitate pharmaceutical dispensing that wouldotherwise be performed in a manual fashion by a pharmacist and/orpharmacist technician. For example, the automated dispensing device 130may include high volume fillers that fill a number of prescription drugtypes at a rapid rate and blister pack machines that dispense and packdrugs into a blister pack. Prescription drugs dispensed by the automateddispensing devices 130 may be packaged individually or collectively forshipping, or may be shipped in combination with other prescription drugsdispenses by other devices in the high volume fulfillment center.

The manual fulfillment device 132 may provide for manually fulfillmentof prescriptions. For example, the manual fulfillment device 132 mayreceive or obtain a container and enable fulfillment of the container bya pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In some embodiments, the manualfulfillment device 132 provides the filled container to another devicein the system 100 to be joined with other containers in a prescriptionorder for a patient or member. In general, a manual fulfillment mayinclude operations at least partially performed by a pharmacist orpharmacy technician. For example, a person may retrieve a supply of theprescribed drug, may make an observation, may count out a prescribedquantity of drugs and place them into a prescription container, or thelike. Some portions of the manual fulfillment process may be automatedby use of a machine. For example, counting of capsules, tablets, orpills may be at least partially automated (e.g., through use of a pillcounter). Prescription drugs dispensed by the manual fulfillment device132 may be packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may beshipped in combination with other prescription drugs dispenses by otherdevices in the high volume fulfillment center.

The review device 134 may process prescription containers to be reviewedby a pharmacist for proper pill count, exception handling, prescriptionverification, and the like. Fulfilled prescriptions may be manuallyreviewed and/or verified by a pharmacist, as may be required by state orlocal law. A pharmacist or other licensed pharmacy person who maydispense certain drugs in compliance with local and/or other laws mayoperate the review device 134 and visually inspect a prescriptioncontainer that has been filled with a prescription drug. The pharmacistmay review, verify, and/or evaluate drug quantity, drug strength, and/ordrug interaction concerns, or otherwise perform pharmacist services. Thepharmacist may also handle containers which have been flagged as anexception, such as containers with unreadable labels, containers forwhich the associated prescription order has been cancelled, containerswith defects, and the like. In an example, the manual review can beperformed at the manual station.

The imaging device 136 may image containers once they have been filledwith pharmaceuticals. The imaging device 136 may measure the fill heightof the pharmaceuticals in the container based on the obtained image todetermine if the container is filled to the correct height given thetype of pharmaceutical and the number of pills in the prescription.Images of the pills in the container may also be obtained to detect thesize of the pills themselves and markings thereon. The images may betransmitted to the order processing device 102, and/or stored in thedatabase 110 as part of the order data 110.

The cap device 138 may be used to cap or otherwise seal a prescriptioncontainer. In some embodiments, the cap device 138 may secure aprescription container with a type of cap in accordance with a patientpreference (e.g., a preference regarding child resistance), a plansponsor preference, a prescriber preference, or the like. The cap device138 may also etch a message into the cap, although this process may beperformed by a subsequent device in the high volume fulfillment center.

The accumulation device 140 accumulates various containers ofprescription drugs in a prescription order. The accumulation device 140may accumulate prescription containers from various devices or areas ofthe pharmacy. For example, the accumulation device 140 may accumulateprescription containers from the unit of use device 128, the automateddispensing device 130, the manual fulfillment device 132, and the reviewdevice 134, at the high volume fulfillment center. The accumulationdevice 140 may be used to group the prescription containers prior toshipment to the member or otherwise.

The literature device 141 prints, or otherwise generates, literature toinclude with prescription drug orders. The literature may be printed onmultiple sheets of substrates, such as paper, coated paper, printablepolymers, or combinations thereof. The literature printed by theliterature device 141 may include information required to accompany theprescription drugs included in a prescription order, relating toprescription drugs in the order, financial information associated withthe order (e.g., an invoice or an account statement), or the like.

In some embodiments, the literature device 141 folds or otherwiseprepares the literature for inclusion with a prescription drug order(e.g., in a shipping container). In some embodiments, the literaturedevice 141 that prints the literature may be separate from theliterature device that prepares the literature for inclusion with aprescription order.

The packing device 142 packages a prescription order in preparation forshipping the order. The packing device 142 may box, bag, or otherwisepackage the fulfilled prescription order for delivery. The packingdevice 142 may further place inserts, e.g., literature or other papers,into the packaging received from the literature device 141 or otherwise.For example, bulk prescription orders may be shipped in a box, whileother prescription orders may be shipped in a bag which may be a wrapseal bag. The packing device 142 may label the box or bag with theaddress and a recipient's name. The label may be printed and affixed tothe bag or box, be printed directly onto the bag or box, or otherwiseassociated with the bag or box. The packing device 142 may sort the boxor bag for mailing in an efficient manner (e.g., sort by deliveryaddress). The packing device 142 may include ice or temperaturesensitive elements for prescriptions which are to be kept within atemperature range during shipping in order to retain efficacy orotherwise. The ultimate package may then be shipped through postal mail,through a mail order delivery service that ships via group and/or air(e.g., UPS, FEDEX, or DHL), through delivery service, through a lockerbox at a shipping site (e.g., AMAZON locker or a PO Box), or otherwise.

The unit of use packing device 144 packages a unit of use prescriptionorder in preparation for shipping the order. The unit of use packingdevice 144 may include manual scanning of containers to be bagged forshipping to verify each container in the order. In an exampleembodiment, the manual scanning may be performed at a manual station.

While the system 100 in FIG. 1 is shown to include single devices 102,106, 122-144 multiple devices may be used. The devices 102, 106, 122-144may be the same type or model of device or may be different device typesor models. When multiple devices are present, the multiple devices maybe of the same device type or models or may be a different device typeor model. The types of devices 102, 106, 122-144 shown in FIG. 1 areexample devices. In other configurations of the system 100, lesser,additional, or different types of devices may be included.

Moreover, the system 100 shows a single network 104; however, multiplenetworks can be used. The multiple networks may communicate in serieswith each other to link the devices 102, 106, 122-144 or in parallel tolink the devices 102, 106, 122-144. Multiple devices may shareprocessing and/or memory resources. The devices 102, 106, 122-144 may belocated in the same area or in different locations. For example, thedevices 102, 106, 122-144 may be located in a building or set ofadjoining buildings. The devices 102, 106, 122-144 may be interconnected(e.g. by conveyors), networked, and/or otherwise in contact with oneanother or integrated with one another, e.g., at the high volumefulfillment center. In addition, the functionality of a device may besplit among a number of discrete devices and/or combined with otherdevices.

FIG. 2 illustrates the order processing device 102, according to anexample embodiment. The order processing device 102 may be used by oneor more than one operator to generate prescription orders, make routingdecisions, make prescription order consolidation decisions, trackliterature with the system 100, and/or view order status and other orderrelated information. For example, the prescription order may becomprised of order components. The order processing device 102 mayreceive instructions to fulfill an order without operator intervention.An order component may include a prescription drug fulfilled by use of acontainer through the system 100. The order processing device 102 maydirect an order component to the manual fulfillment device 132 and/or tothe review device 134, and direct other components to the automateddispensing device 130. The order processing device 102 may direct ordercomponents to the accumulation device 140 for aggregation beforeshipping. The order processing device 102 may direct the ordercomponents directly to the packing device 142 if the prescription orderdoes not require accumulation from various areas of the pharmacy forcompletion. The order processing device 102 may be deployed in thesystem 100, or may otherwise be used.

The order processing device 102 may include an order verificationsubsystem 202, an order control subsystem 204, and/or an order trackingsubsystem 206. Other subsystems may also be included in the orderprocessing device 102.

The order verification subsystem 202 may communicate with the benefitmanager device 106 to, verify the eligibility of the member, review theformulary to determine appropriate co-pay, coinsurance, and deductiblefor the prescription drug, and/or, perform a DUR. Other communicationsbetween the order verification subsystem 202 and the benefit managerdevice 106 may be performed for a variety of purposes.

The order control subsystem 204 controls various movements of thecontainers and/or pallets along with various filling functions duringtheir progression through the system 100. In some embodiments, the ordercontrol subsystem 204 may identify the prescribed drug in one or morethan one prescription order as capable of being fulfilled by theautomated dispensing device 130. The order control subsystem 204 maydetermine which prescriptions are to be launched, and may determine thata pallet of automated-fill containers is to be launched. The ordercontrol subsystem 204 may determine that an automated-fill prescriptionof a specific pharmaceutical is to be launched, and may examine a queueof orders awaiting fulfillment for other prescription orders which willbe filled with the same pharmaceutical. The order control subsystem 204may then launch orders with similar automated-fill pharmaceutical needstogether in a pallet to the automated dispensing device 130. As thedevices 122-144 may be interconnected by a system of conveyors or othercontainer movement systems, the order control subsystem 204 may controlvarious conveyors to deliver the pallet from the loading device 124 tothe manual fulfillment device 132, for example, and the literaturedevice 141 to deliver paperwork as needed to fill the prescription, forexample.

The order tracking subsystem 206 may track a prescription order as itprogresses (or stops) toward fulfillment. The order tracking subsystem206 may track, record and/or update order history, order status, or thelike. The order tracking subsystem 206 may store data locally (e.g., ina memory) or as a portion of the order data 110 stored in the database108.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate views of an example paper feed device 300,according to an example embodiment. The paper feed device 300 may bedeployed in the system 100 as a literature device 141. Other types ofdevices beyond the paper feed device 141 may be included with the system100 as being part of the literature devices 141.

The paper feed device 300 enables management of printed literaturebetween printing and packaging at packing device 142 or unit of usepacking device 144. Printed literature may, as a non-limiting example,contain one or more than one of order data 110, member data 112, claimsdata 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118, and plan sponsor data120, and may be included with a prescription order upon shipment to acustomer. The printed literature may include single sheets of paper andmultiple sheets of paper. A printer 302 may be a component of paper feeddevice 300, or may be a separate component which merely prints and feedspaper to the paper feed device 300. The paper feed device 300 may alsoinclude a paper feed conveyor 304, a paper collator 306, a rollertransport 308, a paper stage fixture 310, a robot arm 312, and a controlunit 316. The paper feed conveyor 304 feeds printed literature from theprinter 302 to the paper collator 306. The paper collator 306 collatesprinted literature and pulls one or more than one sheet of printedliterature for inclusion with a designated prescription order. Therobotic arm 312 picks paperwork from the paper stage fixture 310 forplacement with a prescription order in a box or bag for shipment to acustomer (e.g., a member). The control unit 316 may be deployed in thepaper feed device 300, or may otherwise be used. The control unit 316may operate at the direction of the order processing device 102, or maybe integral with the order processing device 102 or otherwise. Thecontrol unit 316 may include circuitry, processors, and like hardware toexecute instructions and memory to store order data and instructions.

The paper fixture stage 310 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is an unfolded paperfixture stage 310. It is noted that a folded paper fixture stage 314 (asillustrated in detail in FIGS. 10-11) may be implemented instead of orin addition to the unfolded paper fixture stage 310. In an exampleembodiment, when a set of printed literature to be included with aprescription order is less than 15 pages, the folded paper fixture stage314 is used to fold the complete set of printed literature in halfbefore placement with the prescription order for shipment. However, whena set of printed literature to be included with a prescription order is15 pages or more, the unfolded paper fixture stage 310 is used and theprinted literature remains unfolded. The actual threshold number ofpages that trigger a folded/unfolded decision may be changed as desired.

The printer 302 may be a high volume printer capable of printingapproximately 100-150 sheets per minute (50-75 pages per minute induplex mode). The control unit 316 may be in communication with theprinter 302 to initiate printing of literature for a selectedprescription order once the fulfillment of the prescription order hasreached a certain point or stage within the pharmacy. As a non-limitingexample, the order processing device 102 or the control unit 316 maydetermine that the fulfillment of a prescription order is complete andready for shipment. Such a determination may occur once one or more thanone pharmaceutical containers filled with pharmaceuticals according tothe prescription order are scanned upon arrival at the accumulationdevice 140. At that time, the control unit 316 may instruct the printer302 to print the literature which is associated with the prescriptionorder, so that the printed literature and pharmaceutical containers canbe gathered for shipment at the packing device 142 or the unit of usepacking device 144. In another example, the printer 302 is instructed toprint the literature when the prescription order is verified.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of paper feed conveyor 304. Thepaper feed conveyor 304 may include a printer end 502 which receivesprinted pages from the printer 302, as well as a collator end 504 whichdeposits printed pages into the paper collator 306. The paper feedconveyor 304 may also include a first conveyor belt 506 and a secondconveyor belt 508, although more or fewer conveyor belts may instead beused. In some embodiments, a different conveyance mechanism such asrollers maybe used. As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor belts 506, 508convey printed literature from the printer 302 to the paper collator306.

One or more than one wheel devices 510 may be positioned above theconveyor belts 506, 508. As shown in FIG. 5, the wheel device 510 mayinclude a support bar 512, and one or more than one wheel supports 514may extend off of each support bar 512. At least one wheel 516 may berotatably connected to each wheel support 514. As shown, two wheel516/wheel supports/514 combinations extend off of each side of eachsupport bar 512. The wheels 516 may be positioned in contact with orimmediately adjacent to a conveyor belt 506, 508. The wheels 516 therebyallow sheets of printed literature to pass thereunder, while assistingin retaining the sheets on the conveyor belt 506, 508. Similarly, one ormore than one arms 518 may extend off of a support bar 512 in thedirection of travel of the conveyor belts 506, 508. As shown in FIG. 5,the arms 518 are shown extending over the junction between first andsecond conveyor belts 506, 508 to assist in the transition of sheets ofprinted literature from the conveyor belt 506 to the conveyor belt 508.The paper feed conveyor 304, the roller transport 308, and a robot 312are non-limiting examples of paper conveyance mechanisms. Other types ofpaper conveyance mechanism may be used in place of or in addition to thepaper feed conveyor 304, the roller transport 308, and the paperconveyance mechanism.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate various views of an example embodiment of the papercollator 306. As can be seen in FIG. 6, paper collator 306 may include apaper containment area 602 into which printed literature is deposited bypaper feed conveyor 304. Paper containment area 602 may be formed onthree sides by walls 604. In an example embodiment, such as that shownin FIG. 6, one or more than one bumper post 606 may be positioned on atleast one side of the paper containment area 602. An actuator 608 may beconnected to the bumper post 606 to cause movement of the bumper post606 slightly into and out of the paper containment area 602. The post606 may include multiple vertically elongated bodies that arehorizontally spaced. Such action may be used to bump and align printedliterature that is deposited by the paper feed conveyor 304 into thepaper collator 306. One or more than one upper linear actuator 610 andlower linear actuator 612 are also visible in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate cross sectional views of the paper collator306, looking in opposite directions from one another. As can be seen inFIG. 7, two walls 604 are visible, along with a bumper post 606 and anactuator 608. In addition, a stack of pages of printed literature 702 isseen resting on top of an upper shelf 704. Below the upper shelf 704 isa middle shelf 706, and the below middle shelf 706 is a lower shelf 708.As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper shelf 704 may be formed byseparate shelf panels 704A and 704B. Each shelf panel 704A, 704B may beconnected to an upper linear actuator 610, illustrated in FIG. 6.Actuation of the upper linear actuators 610 causes the shelf panels704A, 704B to be pulled outwardly (toward walls), allowing a stack ofprinted literature 702 to drop to the middle shelf 706. Upper linearactuators 610 may then force shelf panels 704A, 704B inwardly so that anew stack of printed literature 702 may be stacked thereon. More orfewer shelf panels may be used to form the upper shelf 704, as would beunderstood.

The middle shelf 706 may also be formed by separate shelf panels 706Aand 706B. Each shelf panel 706A, 706B may be connected to a lower linearactuator 612, illustrated in FIG. 6. Actuation of the lower linearactuators 612 causes the middle shelf panels 706A, 706B to be pulledoutwardly, allowing a stack of printed literature 702 to drop to thelower shelf 708. The lower linear actuators 612 may then force the shelfpanels 706A, 706B inwardly so that a new stack of printed literature 702may be stacked thereon. More or fewer shelf panels may be used to formmiddle shelf 706.

The control unit 316 may control the linear actuators 610, 612.Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7, an upper sensor 710 and a middlesensor 712 may be in communication with the control unit 316. The upperand middle sensors 710, 712 may be laser sensors or other types ofsensors. The upper and middle sensors 710, 712 may determine that astack of printed literature 702 has reached a certain height, or maydetect individual pages of printed literature to track the total numberof pages of printed literature which are present on a respective shelf.The control unit 316 may thereby determine when to cause the actuationof the upper or lower linear actuators 610, 612 to cause a stack ofprinted literature 702 to drop to the next lowest shelf 706, 708.

The bumper post 606 may be elongate so that it extends from the bottomshelf 708, past the middle shelf 706 to the upper shelf 704, The bumperpost 606 may contact stacks of literature 702 on any or all of theshelves 704, 706 708.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, in an example embodiment, beneath the lowershelf 708 may be a plenum 802 connected with a vacuum drum 804. Thevacuum drum 804 may include one or more than one suction apertures 805.A motor 806 may be connected to the vacuum drum 804 and/or the plenum802 via a belt 808, or by a gear, by a chain, or by another structure.The motor 806 may include a blower that runs in reverse to create avacuum within the plenum 802 and/or the vacuum drum 804. In someembodiments, such a blower may be a separate component from the motor806. It is noted that the term vacuum is used herein to denote suction,rather than the presence of a true vacuum, as would be understood. Theblower may create a suction between inside the drum 804 relative tooutside the drum 804. A fluffer 810 may be positioned to blow fluff airat a stack of printed literature 702 resting at the lower shelf 708.Such a fluffing action from the fluffer 810 may assist in separating alowest printed material in the stack from adjacent printed material toallow the drum 804 to engage the lowest printed material and remove itfrom the bottom of the stack. The lower shelf 708 may include a cutout(not shown) sized and positioned to allow a scanner (not shown) to scanat least a portion of the bottom sheet resting on the lower shelf 708.

The control unit 316 may cause the motor 806 (or a separate blower) tocreate a vacuum within the plenum 802 and/or the vacuum drum 804, andmay cause the vacuum drum 804 to rotate. This may cause a sheet ofprinted literature to be pulled from the bottom of the stack of printedliterature 702 resting on the bottom shelf 708. One or more than onesnubber 812 may also be present to prevent more than the bottom sheetfrom being pulled from the stack of printed literature 702. In anexample embodiment, a single snubber 812 may be positioned approximately0.003-0.004 inches above the bottom shelf 708. Additionally, the fluffer810 may blow fluff air at the stack of printed literature 702 resting onthe lower shelf 708 as the bottom sheet from stack 702 is pulled away bythe vacuum drum 804. The fluff air may help to lift, separate or fluffsheets of stack of printed literature 702 so that there is less frictionto retain the bottom sheet in place. A sensor 814, which may be similarto sensors 710, 712, may also be present at the lower shelf 708 to allowthe control unit 316 to evaluate the stack of printed literature 702 onthe lower shelf 708.

The roller transport 308 may have a similar structure to that of thepaper feed conveyor 304. However, just as the paper feed conveyor 304transports sheets of printed literature from the printer 302 to thepaper collator 306, the paper singluator 308 transports sheets ofprinted literature from the paper collator 306 to the paper fixturestage 310. In some embodiments, the roller transport 308 may include aconveyor belt and/or rollers to transport sheets of product literature.The paper singluator 308 may also include wheel devices and the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example embodiment of a paper fixture stage 310.As noted above, the paper fixture stage 310 is an unfolded stage. FIG.10, discussed below, illustrates a folded paper fixture stage 314. Asshown, the paper fixture stage 310 includes a reception end 902 and arobot end 904. A platform 906 extends generally from the reception end902 to the robot end 904 of the paper fixture stage 310. A tray 908 ispositioned on the platform 906, and is moveable from the reception end902 to the robot end 904 of the platform 906 along one or more than onetracks 910. When positioned at the reception end 902 of paper fixturestage 310, the tray 908 receives sheets of printed literature from thepaper singluator 308. The tray 908 may then be moved to the robot end904 of the paper fixture stage 310, where the robotic arm 312 may pickup the printed literature from the tray 908. Additionally, at thereception end 902 of the platform 906 may be a comb device 912. The combdevice 912 may include multiple tines 914 spaced apart from one another.The spaces between the tines 914 allow sheets of printed literature tosettle faster on the tray 908 by giving air underneath such sheets a wayto escape.

One or more scanners 916, 918, which may be barcode scanners, arepositioned to scan sheets of printed literature. In an exampleembodiment, the scanners 916, 918 are positioned at the reception end902 and may scan the literature as it enters the paper fixture stage310. One or more than one scanner such as the scanners 916, 918 may bepresent at various points along the paper feed device 300. Such scannersmay identify sheets of printed literature as they pass through the paperfeed device 300, and may scan both the top and bottom of such sheets.Although one or more than one of the scanners are identified and shownin the FIGS., additional scanners may be positioned and used at otherlocations along the paper feed device 300. Such scanners may determinethe order data 110 and the page number of a given sheet of printedliterature, and such information may be encoded via barcode or otherencoding system. For example, a scanner such as the scanner 916 maydetermine that a given sheet of printed literature is page 4 of 7 (or 3of 7 and 4 of 7, if both sides of the sheet are scanned) associated witha given prescription order. This scanned or determined data may be sentto prescription order tracking devices such as the order processingdevice 102.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another example embodiment of a paper fixturestage, this one a folded paper fixture stage 314. As shown in FIG. 10,the folded paper fixture stage 314 includes a reception end 1002 and afolding end 1004. Sheets of printed literature that form the literaturefor a given order are deposited into a slot 1006 below a guide 1008. Ascan best be seen in FIG. 11, the guide 1008 includes a curved endportion 1102. The folded paper fixture stage 314 also includes a piston1104 and one or more than one fingers 1106. The fingers 1106 areselectively moveable in the direction of the curved end portion 1102 ofthe guide 1008, such that they push sheets of printed literature for agiven order toward the curved end portion 1102. The curved end portion1102 causes the sheets to curve downwardly, at which point the piston1104 extends and engages the sheets of printed literature atapproximately their midpoint to begin making a fold. The piston 1104then pushes the midpoint of the printed literature sheets between one ormore than one upper roller 1010 and one or more lower roller 1012. Theupper and lower rollers 1010, 1012 then cause folding of the sheets ofprinted literature (shown in phantom in FIG. 11 at numeral 1108) withthe folded edge being the midpoint that is initially fed into therollers 1010,1012. The folded sheets of printed literature exit theroller end 1004 of the folded paper fixture stage 314, and are ready forplacement by the robotic arm 312. Movement of the fingers 1106 and thepiston 1104 may be caused by an actuator or motor, or by anothermechanism.

The robotic arm 312 may be a SCARA robot or the like. In an exampleembodiment, the robotic arm 312 includes arms and linkages that may bedriven by actuators or motors to move the arms in any of the X,Y, Zcoordinates or in the X, Y coordinates. In an example embodiment, therobotic arm 312 may be adapted to pick the printed literature, eitherfolded or unfolded, and place it with a fulfilled prescription order forshipment. The robotic arm 312 may include or otherwise utilize a scannerto confirm that all sheets associated with an order are accounted forbefore shipment. Other devices may additionally or alternatively be usedto move printed literature from the paper feed device 300 to the packingdevice 140 or the unit of use packing device 142.

FIG. 12 illustrates the control unit 314, according to an exampleembodiment. The control unit 314 may include a printer control subsystem1202, a collation subsystem 1204, and a literature verification androuting subsystem 1206. Each subsystem may include circuitry, e.g.,processors, logic, and memory, to execute instructions on sensed data.The control unit 314 may be responsible for initiating print jobs ofprinted literature, and may control the progress of such printedliterature through the paper collator 306. Additionally, the controlunit 314 may verify printed literature as it passes through the paperfeed device 300, and route such printed literature accordingly. Thecontrol unit 314 may be communicatively coupled to various sensors andscanners of paper feed device 300.

The printer control subsystem 1202 may enable the control unit 302 todetermine when literature for a prescription order should be printed inorder to for the printed literature to arrive at the packing device 142or the unit of use packing device 144 to be mated with the correspondingfulfilled prescription order for shipment. The printer control subsystem1202 may also communicate with the database 108 to access information tobe printed in the printed literature, and may be responsible forinstructing the printer 302 to hold on further print jobs based on thestatus of the paper collator 306 and/or status of filling a prescriptioncontainer, e.g., a manual fill station. The collation subsystem 1204 maymonitor sensors within the paper collator 306 to determine the availablecapacity thereof, and may direct the operation of actuators, fluffers,and the vacuum drum of the paper collator 306. The literatureverification and routing subsystem 1206 may communicate with scannersthroughout the paper feed device 300 to monitor the location andcompleteness of printed literature in the paper feed device 300, and maydirect the printed literature associated with a prescription order tothe folded or unfolded paper fixture stage 314, 308.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example printer control subsystem 1202 that maybe deployed in the control unit 316, or may be otherwise deployed inanother system. One or more modules are communicatively coupled andincluded in the printer control subsystem 1202 to enable the printercontrol subsystem 1202 to control the printer 302. The modules of theprinter control subsystem 1202 that may be included are a communicationmodule 1302, a printing initiation module 1304, and a printing holdmodule 1306. Other modules may also be included. Each module may includecircuitry, e.g., processors, logic, and memory, to execute instructionson sensed data or calculated data.

In some embodiments, the modules of the printer control subsystem 1202may be distributed so that some of the modules are deployed in otherdevices within the pharmacy. In one embodiment, the modules are deployedin memory and executed by a processor coupled to the memory. Thefunctionality contained within the modules 1302-4306 may be combinedinto a lesser number of modules, further divided among a greater numberof modules, or redistributed among existing modules. Otherconfigurations including the functionality of the modules 1302-1306 maybe used.

The communication module 1302 may manage communication with, forexample, the database 108, the accumulation device 140, the printer 302,paper collator 306, the paper fixture stages 308, 314, and the robot312. Thereby, the communication module 1302 may receive a signal fromthe accumulation device 140 that one or more than one filledprescription orders have arrived at the accumulation device 140. It willbe understood that the arrival of one or more filled prescription ordersat a different component of system 100 may trigger such communicationwith communication module 1302. The communication module 1302 may thencommunicate with database 108 to obtain order data 110, member data 112,claims data 114, drug data 116, prescription data 118, as desired forinclusion in printed literature. The printing initiation module 1304 maythen instruct the printer 302 to initiate or queue a print jobcontaining such data for eventual shipment to a customer with thefulfilled prescription order. The printing hold module 1306 maycommunicate with the printer 302 to cause the printer 302 to stop orhold further print jobs, as discussed below in connection with thecollation subsystem 1204.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example collation subsystem 1204 that may bedeployed in the control unit 316, or may be otherwise deployed inanother system. One or more modules are communicatively coupled andincluded in the collation subsystem 1204. Each module may includecircuitry, e.g., processors, logic, and memory, to execute instructionson sensed data or calculated data. The modules of the collationsubsystem 1204 that may be included are a sensor module 1402, anactuator module 1404, a fluff air module 1406, and/or a vacuum drummodule 1408. Other modules may also be included.

In some embodiments, the modules of the collation subsystem 1204 may bedistributed so that some of the modules are deployed in other deviceswithin the pharmacy. In one embodiment, the modules are deployed inmemory and executed by a processor coupled to the memory. Thefunctionality contained within the modules 1402-1408 may be combinedinto a lesser number of modules, further divided among a greater numberof modules, or redistributed among existing modules. Otherconfigurations including the functionality of the modules 1402-1408 maybe used.

The sensor module 1402 may be in communication with the sensors 710, 712to monitor for the presence of printed literature at various stages ofthe paper collator 306, and to determine additional capacity therein.The actuator module 1404 may cause the upper and lower linear actuators610, 612 to open and close the upper shelf 704 and the middle shelf 706to allow printed literature to move through the paper collator 306. Thefluff air module 1406 may control the fluffer 810 to expel fluff airdirected at printed literature resting on the lower shelf 708. Thevacuum drum module 1408 may initiate a suction (e.g., vacuum function)within the vacuum drum 804 and/or the plenum 802, and may cause rotationthereof.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example literature verification and routingsubsystem 1206 that may be deployed in the control unit 316, or may beotherwise deployed in another system. One or more modules arecommunicatively coupled and included in the literature verification androuting subsystem 1206. Each module may include circuitry, e.g.,processors, logic, and memory, to execute instructions on sensed data orcalculated data. The modules of the literature verification and routingsubsystem 1204 that may be included are a scanner module 1502, afold/unfold module 1504, and/or a robot module 1506. Other modules mayalso be included.

In some embodiments, the modules of the literature verification androuting subsystem 1206 may be distributed so that some of the modulesare deployed in other devices within the pharmacy. In one embodiment,the modules are deployed in memory and executed by a processor coupledto the memory. The functionality contained within the modules 1502-1506may be combined into a lesser number of modules, further divided among agreater number of modules, or redistributed among existing modules.Other configurations including the functionality of the modules1502-1506 may be used.

The scanner module 1502 may be in communication with scanners, such asthe scanner 916 or other scanners located elsewhere in the paper feeddevice 300 to determine the location and completeness of printedliterature in the paper feed device 300. The fold/unfold module 1504 maydetermine whether a print job associated with a prescription order isrouted to the folded or unfolded paper fixture stage 314, 308 based onthe number of sheets in the print job. The robot module 1506 may controlmovement and operation of the robot 312 to pick printed literature fromthe folded and/or unfolded paper fixture stages 314, 308, and place suchliterature with the associated prescription order in the packing device142 and/or the unit of use packing device 144.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a method 1600 for printing literature for aprescription order, according to an example embodiment. The method 1600may be performed by the paper feed device 300 (e.g., as instructed bycontrol unit 316), or may be otherwise performed.

At block 1602, a signal is received regarding the status of thefulfillment of a prescription order. Such a signal may be received froman accumulation device 140 upon arrival of a fulfilled prescriptionorder, or by another device within system 100 at another time. Thesignal may be received by the communication module 1302 of the controlunit 316.

At block 1604, the control device 316 may then utilize the controlmodule 1302 to access a database 108 to obtain one or more of the orderdata 110, the member data 112, the claims data 114, the drug data 116,and the prescription data 118 for inclusion in printed literatureassociated with the prescription order. At block 1606, the control unit316 may then transmit instructions to the printer 302 to queue a printjob containing the desired data for the prescription order.

As print jobs are printed by printer 302, the control unit 316 maymonitor the capacity of the paper collator 306. At block 1608, thesensor module 1402 of the control unit 316 may communicate with theupper sensor 710 to determine whether the paper collator 306 is nearingcapacity at its upper shelf 704. If not, block 1608 repeats until theupper sensor 710 determines that the paper collator 306 is nearingcapacity. At that point, the printing hold module 1306 of control unit316 may transmit a hold instruction to the printer 302 to cease newprint jobs at block 1610. The printer 302 may finish printing any printjobs which have already commenced.

At block 1612, the sensor module 1402 may communicate with middle sensor712 to determine whether the middle shelf 706 has capacity. Where themiddle shelf 706 does have capacity, the actuator module 1404 of thecontrol unit 316 may instruct upper linear actuator 610 to open theupper shelf 704 at block 1614. The sensor module 1402 may also confirmwith middle sensor 712 that printed literature dropped from the uppershelf 704 has been received by the middle shelf 706. At block 1616, theactuator module 1404 may instruct the upper linear actuator 610 to closethe upper shelf 704, and the communication module 1302 may instruct theprinter 302 to resume printing.

However, if the middle shelf does not have capacity at block 1612, thesensor module 1402 may communicate with the lower sensor 814 todetermine whether the lower shelf 708 has capacity at block 1618. Whenthe lower shelf 708 does have capacity, the actuator module 1404 of thecontrol unit 316 may instruct the lower linear actuator 612 to open themiddle shelf 706 at block 1620. The sensor module 1402 may also confirmwith the lower sensor 814 that printed literature dropped from themiddle shelf 706 has been received by the lower shelf 708. At block1622, the actuator module 1404 may instruct the lower linear actuator612 to close the middle shelf 706, and the process may return to block1612 discussed above.

However, if the lower shelf does not have capacity at block 1618, atblock 1624, the vacuum drum module 1408 of the control unit 316 mayinstruct the vacuum drum 804 and/or the plenum 802 to pull a vacuum andadvance to draw the bottom sheet from the stack of printed literature onthe bottom shelf 708. Fluff air module 1406 helps the vacuum drum 804and/or the plenum 802 to draw a single sheet by controlling fluff airblown into the stack of printed literature by Huffer 810. At block 1626,the scanner module 1502 communicates with the scanner 916 to scan thesheet drawn from the stack of printed literature to determine whetherthere are other sheets associated with the drawn sheet and itscorresponding prescription order. The scanner 916 may scan both the topand bottom of the drawn sheet to verify that only a single sheet hasbeen drawn. This may be compared against one or more than one previousscan, such as a scan completed while the drawn sheet was resting at thebottom of the stack of printed literature on lower shelf 708. Such acomparison may confirm that the correct sheet has been drawn, that asingle sheet has been drawn, and/or that the desired number of sheetshave arrived at scanner 916.

Where it is determined that there are additional sheets associated withthe drawn sheet at block 1626, the control unit 316 at block 1628determines whether all other sheets associated with the drawn sheet havebeen drawn from the paper collator 306. If other sheets remain in thepaper collator 306, the method reverts to block 1624.

When it is determined that there are no other sheets associated with thedrawn sheet at block 1626, or when it is determined that all othersheets associated with the drawn sheet have been drawn at block 1628,the method advances to block 1630. At block 1630, the scanner module1502 may again communicate with the scanner 916 to scan each drawn sheetto confirm that such sheets are all correctly associated with thedesired prescription order. If an anomaly is found at block 1630 and notall of the drawn sheets are associated with the desired prescriptionorder, the drawn sheets are rejected at block 1632. However, where allof the drawn sheets are verified as belonging to the desired print jobfor a prescription order at block 1630, the method advances to block1634.

At block 1634, the fold/unfold module 1504 of the control unit 316determines whether the print job should be folded or remain unfolded. Asdiscussed above, such a determination may be made based on the pagecount of the print job, and may have occurred earlier in themethodology. Where it is determined that the print job should remainunfolded, the print job is routed to the unfolded paper fixture stage310 at block 1636. However, where it is determined that the print jobshould be folded, the print job is routed to the folded paper fixturestage 314 at step 1638. In either case, at step 1640, the robot module1506 instructs the robot 312 to pick the print job and place it with itscorresponding prescription order in the packing device 142 or the unitof use packing device 144.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a machine in the example form of acomputer system 1700 within which a set of instructions may be executedcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods,processes, operations, or methodologies discussed herein. The devices102, 106, 122-144, 300, for example, may include the functionality ofthe one or more computer systems 1700.

In an example embodiment, the machine operates as a standalone device ormay be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a gaming device, a set-top box (STB), a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, anetwork router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 1700 includes a processor 1702 (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both),a main memory 1704 and a static memory 1706, which communicate with eachother via a bus 1708. The computer system 1700 further includes a videodisplay unit 1710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode raytube (CRT)). The computer system 1700 also includes an alphanumericinput device 1712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1714(e.g., a mouse), a drive unit 1716, a signal generation device 1718(e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1720.

The drive unit 1716 includes a computer-readable medium 1722 on which isstored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1724) embodyingany one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Thesoftware 1724 may also reside, completely or at least partially, withinthe main memory 1704 and/or within the processor 1702 during executionthereof by the computer system 1700, the main memory 1704 and theprocessor 1702 also constituting computer-readable media.

The software 1724 may further be transmitted or received over a network1726 via the network interface device 1720.

While the computer-readable medium 1722 is shown in an exampleembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions forexecution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any oneor more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term“computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, butnot be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical media, and magneticmedia. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium is anon-transitory computer-readable medium. In other examples, acomputer-readable medium is any medium that satisfies statutoryrequirements and stores instructions for use by a machine

The term “based on” or using, as used herein, reflects an open-endedterm that can reflect others elements beyond those explicitly recited.

Certain systems, apparatus, applications or processes are describedherein as including a number of modules. A module may be a unit ofdistinct functionality that may be presented in software, hardware, orcombinations thereof. When the functionality of a module is performed inany part through software, the module includes a computer-readablemedium. The modules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled.

The embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide for aplurality of circuits or other electrical devices, which can be used inunits, modules, systems, and sub-systems and the like. All references tosuch and the functionality provided by each, are not intended to belimited to encompassing only what is illustrated and described herein.While particular labels may be assigned to the various circuits or otherelectrical devices disclosed, such labels are not intended to limit thescope of operation for the circuits and the other electrical devices.Such circuits and other electrical devices may be combined with eachother and/or separated in any manner based on the particular type ofelectrical/operational implementation that is desired. It is recognizedthat any circuit or other electrical device disclosed herein may includeany number of microprocessors, discrete circuit components, integratedcircuits, memory devices (e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or othersuitable variants thereof) and instructions (e.g., software) whichco-act with one another to perform operation(s) disclosed herein. Inaddition, any one or more of the electric devices may be configured toexecute a computer-program that is embodied in a computer readablemedium that is programmed to perform any number of the functions andfeatures as disclosed. The computer readable medium may benon-transitory or in any form readable by a machine or electricalcomponent

The inventive subject matter may be represented in a variety ofdifferent embodiments of which there are many possible permutations.

The present disclosure makes reference to a robot and words of similarimport. A robot can be a machine capable of carrying out a complexseries of actions automatically. These complex series of actions mayinclude picking up, orientating, positioning and/or releasing acontainer or other structure. The robot may be dedicated to a singleseries of movements or may be able to execute multiple series ofmovements. A robot may include a processor that received instructionsand then executes instructions to control its movement. In anotherexample, a robot may resemble a human being and replicate certain humanmovements and functions, e.g., a robot may move location, have anarticulated arm, have grasping structures that replicate like fingersand do not damage containers, and the like.

In an example embodiment, pharmaceutical filling system includes acontrol device, a paper collator positioned to receive printedliterature from a printer, said paper collator including at least aselectively openable upper shelf and a lower shelf, at least one of afolded paper fixture stage and an unfolded paper fixture stage, said atleast one of said folded paper fixture stage and said unfolded paperfixture stage positioned to receive individual jobs of printedliterature from the paper collator, a paper conveyance mechanism formating each said individual job of printed literature with itsassociated fulfilled prescription order;, wherein the control device isoperable to determine remaining capacity of the upper shelf of the papercollator, instruct the printer to hold printing of additional printjobs, instruct an upper actuator to open the upper shelf, therebydropping printed literature supported by the upper shelf, instruct theupper actuator to close the upper shelf, and instruct the printer tocontinue printing additional print jobs.

In an example embodiment, a signal from a component in a pharmacy thatfulfillment of a prescription order has reached a predetermined stage isreceived by a control unit. A printer is instructed to print literatureassociated with the prescription order as a print job. The capacitystatus of an upper shelf of a paper collator is monitored. Upon adetermination that the capacity of the upper shelf is running low, thecontrol unit instructs the printer to hold printing on additional printjobs, instructs an upper actuator associated with the upper shelf toopen the paper shelf, causes printed literature supported by the uppershelf to drop toward a lower shelf of the paper collator, instructs theupper actuator to close the upper shelf, and instructs the printer toresume printing additional print jobs.

Thus, methods and systems for a paper feed system have been described.Although embodiments of the present invention have been described withreference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the embodimentsof the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

The methods described herein do not have to be executed in the orderdescribed, or in any particular order. Moreover, various activitiesdescribed with respect to the methods identified herein can be executedin serial or parallel fashion. Although “End” blocks are shown in theflowcharts, the methods may be performed continuously.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that variousfeatures are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie inless than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for routing sheets for a pharmaceuticalfilling center, comprising: at least one sensor configured to monitor apaper collator and determine a remaining capacity of the paper collator,the paper collator including an upper shelf and a lower shelf; aprocessor configured to selectively (i) instruct a printer to holdprinting the sheets in response to determining that the remainingcapacity of the paper collator is smaller than a threshold; and (ii)resume printing the sheets in response to determining that the remainingcapacity of the paper collator is larger than the threshold; and anupper actuator configured to selectively (a) open the upper shelf tothereby drop the sheets retained by the upper shelf to the lower shelfand (b) close the upper shelf after the lower shelf has received thesheets from the upper shelf
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one sensor comprises: an upper sensor positioned to monitor anddetermine an remaining capacity of the upper shelf; and a lower sensorpositioned to monitor and determine an remaining capacity of the lowershelf, wherein: the remaining capacity of the paper collator isdetermined to be smaller the threshold when the remaining capacity ofthe upper shelf and the remaining capacity of the lower shelf aredetermined to be smaller than the threshold, and the remaining capacityof the paper collator is determined larger than the threshold when oneof the remaining capacity of the upper shelf and the remaining capacityof the lower shelf is determined to be smaller larger the threshold. 3.The system of claim 2, further comprising: a vacuum drum configured topull a bottom sheet of the sheets retained by the lower shelf, wherein:in response to determining that the remaining capacity of the uppershelf is smaller than the threshold, the lower sensor monitors anddetermines the remaining capacity of the lower shelf; in response todetermining that the remaining capacity of the lower shelf is largerthan the threshold, the upper actuator opens the upper shelf to drop thesheets to the lower shelf and closes the upper shelf after the lowershelf has received the sheets from the upper shelf; and in response todetermining that the remaining capacity of the lower shelf is smallerthan the threshold, the vacuum drum draws the bottom sheet of the sheetsfrom the lower shelf.
 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: thepaper collator including a middle shelf located between the upper shelfand the lower shelf, a middle sensor positioned to monitor and determinethe remaining capacity of the middle shelf, and a lower actuatorconfigured to selectively (i) open the middle shelf to thereby drop thesheets retained by the middle shelf to the lower shelf and (ii) closethe middle shelf after the lower shelf has received the sheets from themiddle shelf.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein: in response todetermining that the remaining capacity of the upper shelf is smallerthan the threshold and that the remaining capacity of the middle shelfis larger than the threshold, the upper actuator opens the upper shelfto drop the sheets from the upper shelf to the middle shelf and closesthe upper shelf after the middle shelf has received the sheets from theupper shelf; and in response to determining that the remaining capacityof the upper shelf is smaller than the threshold and that the remainingcapacity of the middle shelf is smaller than the threshold, the lowersensor monitors and determines the remaining capacity of the lowershelf; in response to determining that the remaining capacity of thelower shelf is larger than the threshold, the lower actuator opens themiddle shelf to drop the sheets to the lower shelf and closes the middleshelf after the lower shelf has received the sheets from the middleshelf; and in response to determining that the remaining capacity of thelower shelf is smaller than the threshold, the vacuum drum draws thebottom sheet of the sheets from the lower shelf.
 6. The system of claim4, wherein the lower actuator is further configured to selectively pulloutwardly the middle shelf to thereby allow the sheets being directlydropped from the upper shelf to the lower shelf in response todetermining that the remaining capacity of the middle shelf is smallerthan the threshold and that the remaining capacity of the lower shelf islarger than the threshold.
 7. The system of claim 3, further comprising:the paper collator including at least one snubber positioned to retainthe sheets on the lower shelf except for the bottom sheet, such thatonly the bottom sheet is configured to be pulled by the vacuum drum. 8.The system of claim 7, further comprising: a fluffer positioned to expelfluff air at the sheets retained by the lower shelf to assist inseparating the bottom sheet from an adjacent sheet of the sheetsretained by the lower shelf and allow the vacuum drum to engage andremove the bottom sheet from the lower shelf.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the fluffer is positioned in a vicinity of the lower shelf andconfigured to expel fluff air at the sheets resting on the lower shelf.10. The system of claim 3, wherein: the vacuum drum includes at leastone suction aperture, a motor, and a blower, and the blower isconfigured to be driven by the motor to create a suction between insidethe vacuum drum relative to outside the vacuum drum such that the bottomsheet is drawn via the at least one suction aperture.
 11. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a laser sensor configured todetermine a height of the sheets or a number of sheets of the sheets todetermine the remaining capacity of the paper collator.
 12. The systemof claim 1, wherein the upper actuator is further configured toselectively pull outwardly the upper shelf to thereby allow the sheetsbeing directly dropped from the printer to the lower shelf in responseto determining that the remaining capacity of the upper shelf is smallerthan the threshold and that the remaining capacity of the lower shelf islarger than the threshold.
 13. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one scanner configured to scan at least one sheetof the sheets to determine a prescription order with which the sheet isassociated; and a paper fixture stage configured to fold or unfold thesheets, wherein the processor is configured to direct the sheets to thepaper fixture stage based on the prescription order.
 14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein: the paper fixture stage is a folded paper fixturestage or an unfolded paper fixture stage, and the processor isconfigured to direct the sheets associated with the prescription orderto the folded paper fixture stage or the unfolded paper fixture stagebased on a page count of the sheets to be printed by the printer.
 15. Amethod for routing sheets for a pharmaceutical filling center,comprising: monitoring a paper collator to determine an remainingcapacity of the paper, wherein the paper collator includes an uppershelf and a lower shelf; in response to determining that the remainingcapacity of the paper collator is smaller than a threshold, instructinga printer to hold printing the sheets; in response to determining thatthe remaining capacity of the paper collator is larger than thethreshold, resuming printing the sheets; and instructing an upperactuator associated with the upper shelf to selectively (i) open theupper shelf to thereby drop the sheets retained by the upper shelf tothe lower shelf and (ii) close the upper shelf after the lower shelf hasreceived the sheets from the upper shelf.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising: determining that the remaining capacity of the papercollator is smaller than the threshold when an remaining capacity of theupper shelf and an remaining capacity of the lower shelf are bothsmaller than the threshold, and determining that the remaining capacityof the paper collator is larger than the threshold when one of theremaining capacity of the upper shelf and the remaining capacity of thelower shelf is larger than the threshold.
 17. The method of claim 16,further comprising: in response to determining that the remainingcapacity of the upper shelf is smaller than the threshold and that theremaining capacity of the lower shelf is larger than the threshold,opening the upper shelf to drop the sheets to the lower shelf andclosing the upper shelf after the lower shelf has received the sheetsfrom the upper shelf; and in response to determining that the remainingcapacity of the upper shelf is smaller than the threshold and that theremaining capacity of the lower shelf is smaller than the threshold,pulling and removing a bottom sheet of the sheets retained by the lowershelf by a vacuum drum.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:in response to determining that the remaining capacity of the uppershelf is smaller than the threshold, monitoring and determining anremaining capacity of a middle shelf located between the upper shelf andthe lower shelf; in response to determining that the remaining capacityof the upper shelf is smaller than the threshold and that the remainingcapacity of the middle shelf is larger than the threshold, opening theupper shelf to drop the sheets from the upper shelf to the middle shelfand closing the upper shelf after the middle shelf has received thesheets from the upper shelf; and in response to determining that theremaining capacity of the upper shelf is smaller than the threshold andthat the remaining capacity of the middle shelf is smaller than thethreshold, monitoring and determining the remaining capacity of thelower shelf; in response to determining that the remaining capacity ofthe lower shelf is larger than the threshold, opening the middle shelfto drop the sheets to the lower shelf and closing the middle shelf afterthe lower shelf has received the sheets from the middle shelf; and inresponse to determining that the remaining capacity of the lower shelfis smaller than the threshold, pulling and removing the bottom sheet ofthe sheets retained by the lower shelf by the vacuum drum.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising: selectively pulling outwardlythe middle shelf to thereby allow the sheets being directly dropped fromthe upper shelf to the lower shelf in response to determining that theremaining capacity of the middle shelf is smaller than the threshold andthat the remaining capacity of the lower shelf is larger than thethreshold; or selectively pulling outwardly the upper shelf to therebyallow the sheets being directly dropped from the printer to the middleshelf in response to determining that the remaining capacity of theupper shelf is smaller than the threshold and the remaining capacity ofthe middle is larger than the threshold; or selectively pullingoutwardly the upper shelf and the middle shelf to thereby allow thesheets being directly dropped from the printer to the lower shelf inresponse to determining that the remaining capacity of the upper shelfand the middle shelf are both smaller than the threshold and the thatremaining capacity of the lower shelf is larger than the threshold. 20.The method of claim 15, wherein determining the remaining capacity ofthe paper collator is according with a determination of a height of thesheets or a page count of the sheets retained by the paper collator.